When the postman delivers ...

Yesterday, when I got home at 9 p.m. after my daugther's JV softball game, the coolest surprise awaited in my mailbox. As I write this, all I can think of is Prince singing, "Did the postman put your million dollar check in someone else's box?"

No, I didn't receive the Publisher's Clearinghouse sweepstakes entry form. Not yet, anyway.

Inside the mailbox was a large box. The return address was from the Fort Wayne Wizards baseball team. A little background is necessary, I suppose. When I went to Opening Day in Detroit a couple weeks ago, Ken, Steve, and I met up with Ken's friend, Dave, in Lansing. Dave is a general manager for the Wizards and happened to have a rare baseball-season day-off, so he was able to go. I enjoyed talking baseball with him and asked about Cameron Maybin, a Detroit Tigers' minor leaguer who had opened the season against the Wizards. Dave said he's a nice young man, who is very cordial. He mentioned that Cameron had signed a number of items for the organization.

Well, I guess I'm a part of the organization now, because in that box was a brand new, official league, signed Cameron Maybin ball! You talk about excited. I was -- no joke -- like a 12-year-old. Just excited, smiley, and ready to take on the world.

My office contains about 12 or so baseballs and softballs that people have given me over the years. Most of them are unsigned. It just started with one baseball and grew. I'm so excited that Dave thought enough of my baseball fandoom to send me an autographed baseball from a "five-tool future superstar."

Thanks, Dave, for making my day!

Go Wizards!!!